Jobs at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview / Summary

• The Senior Advocacy Manager will provide technical leadership and oversight to the IRC Nigeria advocacy work in line with Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2022 - 2024 ambitions and will lead the development of Nigeria advocacy plan in close collaboration with the Senior Management team, programs and the Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator.
• S/he will be responsible for the context analysis, preparation and implementation of the IRC's advocacy plans at the national and decentralized levels.
• S/he will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to amplify the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by the conflict and crisis, to play a big role and influence decisions about their recovery, resilience building as well as the development and the ability of community leaders, authorities, and service providers to respond to the people’s needs.
• The Senior Advocacy Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director for  Programs (DDP) and Management in Partnership with the Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator with close working relationship and support from the Country Director and Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator.
• In country S/he will have close collaboration and coordination with the Deputy Director Field Management, Senior Program Coordinators, Technical Coordinators, MEAL Coordinator, Senior Grants Coordinator, Senior Partnership Manager and Communication Manager.

Major Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development of the IRC Nigeria advocacy strategy for in line with Nigeria S100 Strategic Action Plan and the regional advocacy and communication strategies contributes to the delivery of SAP ambitions and programs through advocacy
• Determine the spaces for influencing that the IRC Nigeria can work on through advocacy at the local government, state government and federal government levels.
• Ensure capacity building of country program team on advocacy.
• Build relationships with government stakeholders and provide regular updates to Country Leadership team and SMT on the key outcomes of the engagement.  
• Strengthen client-led advocacy to amplify the voices of communities to their leaders. 
• Work with communities to advocate for the continuation of services after the IRC exit to increase political incentives for doing so.
• Amplify the IRCs presence and voices in the areas of operations and various working groups and initiatives.
• Work closely with regional advocacy and communication coordinator to ensure coordinated approaches on advocacy and feed in regional and global advocacy opportunities so to achieve the most impactful positive change.
• Create innovative advocacy/influencing space to engage with decision makers who can secure positive change for our clients in both short term and long term”.

Improving Program Quality and Impact:

• Keep abreast with government policies and guidelines in key areas of the IRC work in Nigeria
• Work closely with Senior Program Coordinator, Technical Coordinators, Director Field Management and Field Coordinators for context analysis and establish relevant advocacy needs at the field levels and sectoral levels to inform country advocacy plan and messaging’s
• Share the needs and information collected from the field with the Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator and together develop relevant advocacy messaging that will help amplify the advocacy voices and this gives value addition to IRC Nigeria advocacy work
• Identify influential and key stakeholders in civil society, state and government structures that can influence changes or key decision makers for issues pertaining the wellbeing our clients.
• Ensure that program teams include relevant advocacy at proposal design
• Participate in the planning and preparation of advocacy events, campaigns, meetings and workshops, (national/international days such as Women’s Day, the Day of the African Child, etc).
• Ensure program learnings are included in advocacy and policy products to make IRC voices unique, more credible, stronger and IRC becoming the “go to” organization.
• Ensure regular monitoring of advocacy and policy work and that regular reflections are undertaken to continuously improve effectiveness and impact of program.
• Work closely with GEDI and women at work (W@W) team to promote women’s rights and breaking down barriers for women and girls and ensure gender equality
• Collaborate with SMT on change of context and required advocacy point to ensure the advocacy messaging aligns with context and update information.
• Develop relevant advocacy product in coordination with the communication team that  includes talking points, letters, briefing notes, position papers, and advocacy reports.
• Contribute in building capacity of civil society organization and local organization in advocacy work.

Coordination and Networking:

• Ensure the IRC representations in key external advocacy and policy forums as appropriate and as agreed with the IRC Nigeria Country Director and Deputy Director of Programs
• Coordinate the IRC Nigeria advocacy messages for local, national, regional and global agendas and medias with the Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator
• Engage on bi-weekly call with the WA advocacy & communication Coordinator to align the efforts across the region.
• Build relationships and work with Nigeria INGO Forum, other civil society, or local organizations on key advocacy themes and joint advocacy agendas and facilitate mutual exchanges of information.
• Build key relationship and trusts with state governments.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs and will be managed through management in partnership with the Regional Advocacy and Communication Coordinator
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Country Director, who will hold the sign off authority for advocacy and policy messages developed.
• Position directly Supervises: N/A.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program: Country Director, SMT, Senior Program Coordinators, Technical Coordinators, MEAL Coordinator, Senior Grants Coordinator, Communication Manager, Senior Partnership Manager, Field Coordinators and Managers
• Region / Global: Advocacy team where applicable
• Key External Contacts: UN agencies, Nigeria INGO Forum, Civil Society Organization, and local partners.

Qualifications
Education:

• Master's Degree in Development in Development, Humanitarian Studies, Advocacy, Policy, Communication, Law or Social Science or equivalent.

Work Experience:

• 3 - 5 years of experience in advocacy and policy work in protracted humanitarian or development settings, preferably with an INGO. 
• Experience in leading and developing advocacy and policy strategy
• Experience in building inter agency coalition and relationship for the purpose of policy influencing
• Proven analytical skills and ability to work with others to develop advocacy strategy into action and communicate the action to wider audiences
• Commitments to humanitarian principles and actions
• Experience in advocacy for marginalized and minority groups, women, IDPs, Refugees, etc.
• This role is open only for national candidates who meet the required qualifications.

Demonstrated Managerial / Leadership Competencies:

• High level of self-awareness, interpersonal and communication skills
• Must have good time management, multitasking skills
• Good teamwork and leadership skills are essential to motivate different groups of people to fulfil their responsibilities within a given time frame.
• Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Values diversity, inclusion, people with disabilities and minorities groups
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations with minimal supervision and without compromising on deadlines or quality.

Languages: 

• Excellent written and spoken skills in English.
• Fluency in Hausa and Kanuri is an advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Ability to Travel:

• 40% of travel time to program locations.

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Job Overview / Summary

• The Environmental Health (EH) Coordinator is the focal point for environmental health programs in Nigeria and ensures the implementation of quality WASH programing in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
• The EH Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Water, Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs, and will also be responsible for fulfilling IRC’s strategic objectives for the EH sector.  
• The EH Coordinator is also responsible for program design, and technical support to ensure quality implementation, standardization, monitoring, and evaluation of all activities in the WASH sector.
• The EH Coordinator will strengthen sector activities and provide technical oversight of the program across all sites of implementation in northeast Nigeria.
• S/he will also focus on emergency response capability, with the ability to respond to a fluid programming context and deliver key services rapidly and effectively. The EH Coordinator supervises all EH staff, and reports to the Senior Program Coordinator.
• The EH Coordinator will receive technical support from the Technical Advisor for EH Programs. The position is based in the IRC Maiduguri field office in Borno state with regular travel to supervise IRC’s EH programs throughout the northeast. 

Major Responsibilities

• Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy
• Program Development
• Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of the EH program; providing support to the program managers and field teams to develop work plans to guide implementation of approved grants.
• Support the program managers and field teams in the technical design, implementation, and monitoring of work plans, ensuring that activities reflect the commitments made to the donor and the communities we serve.
• Work closely with M&E team to develop and improve M&E and feedback mechanisms for the EH program, ensuring that the EH teams in the field actively monitor set indicators and effectively address concerns of the target communities.
• Work closely with Supply Chain department to develop and monitor procurement and distribution plans monthly.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC EH program in accordance with the country program’s strategy action plan.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the Grants and Finance departments.
• Work with the Senior Program Coordinator and the EH team to strengthen the WASH sector in Nigeria, defining the strategic direction of EH programming and developing a sector strategy that fits into the IRC2020 strategy.
• Support emergency needs assessments in response to the developing humanitarian situation.
• Together with field teams, develop programs and proposals for rapid and timely support of populations affected by conflict.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Nigeria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train, and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Grants Management & Reporting:

• Review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the program managers.
• Participate in grant opening, mid-term review, and grant closing meetings.
• Draft technical aspects of internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.
• In collaboration with the program managers, review Budget vs. Actual expenditures for EH programs monthly. Bring any over/under expenditure issues to the attention of the Senior Management Team in a timely manner and jointly develop corrective plans in collaboration with the SPC and the Grants team.

Representation & Coordination:

• In coordination with the SPC, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Establish networks with UN, INGOs, and local partners to promote technical capacity and develop strategic partnerships, including active participation in cluster meetings.
• Represent the EH program with national authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders.

Research, Learning and Analysis:

• Responsible for all in-country activities to ensure that research activities under run smoothly.
• Work closely with research and program teams at headquarters and in field programs to coordinate logistics and administration of research studies.
• Assist in data collection training, piloting, and implementation as needed, including possible programming of quantitative software for data collection
• Provide coordination support for dissemination of research findings.
• Adhere to research standards, including ethical approval protocols and other IRC research standards
• Ability to take initiative to implement administrative and logistical tasks needed within research projects with oversight from lead researcher.

Coordination & Representation:

• Experience working with host governments, UN bodies, INGOs and local NGOs
• Strong on donor relations in emergency/humanitarian context
• Adaptability and ability to re-priorities according to the changing context
• Able to work effectively and creatively within a team.
• Ability to manage local staff in a mature, respectful, and impartial manner
• Extensive experience in project cycle management
• Minimum five years sectoral lead experience in humanitarian emergency programming.
• Preferably in the Northeast Nigeria.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Snr Program Coordinator (Health)
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Technical Advisor (EH)
• Position directly Supervises: EH Snr Managers and Managers.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  Work with Technical Coordinators, Finance, Grants, and supply chain team
• Region/Global: Technical Unit

Key External Contacts: 

• Experience working with host governments, UN bodies, INGOs and local NGOs
• Strong on donor relations in emergency/humanitarian context.

Qualifications

• M.Sc or equivalent in Civil, Environmental Engineering or Public Health (MPH) Degrees, with Water and Sanitation specialization preferred.
• In lieu of Master’s Degree, an additional 2 years of relevant experience maybe considered.

Work Experience:

• Experience working in humanitarian and insecure environments. Minimum of five years overseas professional experience in program design and implementation in the field of environmental health.
• Experience in emergency response.
• Demonstrated experience in project design and development, including needs assessment and proposal development.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including budget management
• Understanding of protection principles as well as conflict sensitivity
• Experience in working with and coordinating with donors, UN agencies, INGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Additional qualities: ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

Languages: 

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  Add position-specific (e.g., accounting software, statistical software, etc.).
• Ability to Travel: 50 % of time if applicable.